0:00:10.909,0:00:15.687
Oh, yeah... we must build a town.

0:00:16.237,0:00:21.541
That town would be[br]for all sign language users,

0:00:21.571,0:00:25.550
a fully integrated, accessible[br]and bilingual... for all.

0:00:25.670,0:00:29.785
I don't mean just for Deaf people.[br]I mean for all people!

0:00:30.621,0:00:34.276
Hard of hearing, people with cochlear[br]implants, deaf and hearing people,

0:00:34.306,0:00:36.479
it doesn't matter, all of them.

0:00:36.494,0:00:39.805
Let me start with why[br]we should build this town.

0:00:39.905,0:00:43.243
I'll give you some statistics and facts.

0:00:43.615,0:00:46.897
In education, for instance,

0:00:46.927,0:00:50.410
according to Wikipedia,[br]25 % of the world population

0:00:50.420,0:00:53.000
currently receives no formal education.

0:00:53.040,0:00:57.128
That's 25 %, again,[br]with no formal schooling.

0:00:58.080,0:00:59.851
What about deaf people?

0:00:59.861,0:01:02.471
According to the[br]World Federation of the Deaf,

0:01:02.481,0:01:07.453
a whopping 80 %[br]receive no education in the world!

0:01:07.483,0:01:13.328
Twenty-five percent against eighty[br]percent? Wow, that's not even close!

0:01:14.503,0:01:17.828
Secondly, in employment ...

0:01:18.198,0:01:23.988
Before the Americans[br]with Disabilities Act passed,

0:01:24.008,0:01:28.220
according to[br]Andrew Houtenville's research,

0:01:28.230,0:01:33.109
about 63% of disabled people[br]were unemployed.

0:01:33.690,0:01:36.647
So, when ADA passed, we all were excited.

0:01:36.667,0:01:40.641
Several years later, the number[br]increased to 65% of unemployed.

0:01:40.671,0:01:44.287
Not that I agree that Deaf people[br]should be categorized under disability.

0:01:44.307,0:01:46.840
No, but that's how they do it.[br]That's okay for now.

0:01:47.015,0:01:50.919
In Federal government, there's data[br]on disabled people who are employed there.

0:01:50.939,0:01:54.628
Office of Personnel and Management[br]actually tracks this kind of thing.

0:01:54.636,0:01:59.777
Statistics are broken down by disability[br]such as mobility impaired, amputees,

0:01:59.797,0:02:05.686
blind, low vision, mental health issues,[br]mental retardation, deaf, hard of hearing.

0:02:05.702,0:02:09.189
Numbers were broken down[br]into pay grade levels from GS-1 to GS-15,

0:02:09.229,0:02:13.479
levels determined by pay[br]and responsibility scale.

0:02:13.499,0:02:17.688
Higher GS levels, means[br]more management responsibility.

0:02:17.758,0:02:21.839
From GS-1 to GS-7, deaf people were much[br]in line with other types of disabilities.

0:02:21.859,0:02:25.914
However from GS-8 to GS-15,

0:02:25.934,0:02:32.623
deaf people drop in numbers, just[br]above people with mental retardation.

0:02:35.778,0:02:39.376
So, now... not only that.

0:02:39.416,0:02:42.372
This is America.

0:02:43.222,0:02:48.231
There's over 510,000[br]elected officials according to Favp.org.

0:02:48.271,0:02:52.770
Again, over 510,000.

0:02:52.830,0:02:57.175
These elected officials are at federal,[br]state, city, and county levels.

0:02:57.205,0:03:00.937
We're not including appointed[br]positions, just elected ones.

0:03:01.007,0:03:04.383
Again, all in all,[br]there's 510,000 elected officials.

0:03:04.473,0:03:08.483
How many people live in America today?[br]We have 307 million Americans.

0:03:08.536,0:03:13.571
If you divide these two numbers, you get[br]something like 0.0000168 or so.

0:03:13.615,0:03:16.565
So, we take that number.

0:03:16.855,0:03:20.955
Now, there's no hard data on how many deaf[br]people use American Sign Language daily.

0:03:20.975,0:03:23.429
There's no hard data out there.

0:03:23.449,0:03:26.980
My educated estimate[br]is about 400,000 deaf people

0:03:27.000,0:03:29.513
who use sign language daily.

0:03:29.695,0:03:35.591
So, 400,000 multiplied with that ratio[br]makes 665 elected officials

0:03:35.630,0:03:38.343
who should be our own people[br]using sign language daily.

0:03:38.373,0:03:41.617
So, how many do we actually have today?

0:03:41.647,0:03:45.525
Zero. Yes, seriously, zero!

0:03:46.644,0:03:51.794
My dear friend is in the process[br]of adopting a foster deaf child.

0:03:51.814,0:03:53.927
Wow, I was thrilled.

0:03:53.957,0:03:57.379
He was telling me something incredible.

0:03:57.390,0:04:01.612
He has two boys, children of deaf adults.

0:04:01.782,0:04:05.863
While they were starting out[br]with foster care system,

0:04:05.883,0:04:08.900
the people at the foster[br]care system were grateful.

0:04:08.910,0:04:13.870
They told my friend that deaf kids[br]were absolutely the last to be adopted.

0:04:13.917,0:04:15.775
The last ones!

0:04:15.795,0:04:21.685
Even before other kids who require[br]greater physical care and daily attention!

0:04:22.160,0:04:27.131
They would be adopted first[br]before the deaf kids.

0:04:30.031,0:04:33.310
So, all these statistics[br]are giving us a hint.

0:04:33.340,0:04:35.194
So now, we look around.[br]Think about it.

0:04:35.224,0:04:38.704
Do we even own residential deaf schools?

0:04:38.924,0:04:41.745
Do we own them, run them,[br]make decisions there?

0:04:41.775,0:04:45.287
Does "our" schools even reflect[br]our community and values?

0:04:46.112,0:04:48.917
No. The state owns them.

0:04:51.126,0:04:53.348
Now, look.

0:04:53.368,0:04:57.364
Back to the fact we should have[br]665 deaf elected officials.

0:04:57.384,0:05:00.412
Let me emphasize that this is America.

0:05:00.442,0:05:06.361
Think about what makes America so special,[br]and in the History, why America was born.

0:05:06.882,0:05:09.361
People came here[br]looking for religious freedom. Yes.

0:05:09.421,0:05:13.333
This country was a huge experiment[br]in liberty and self-governance.

0:05:13.363,0:05:17.865
That was the very foundation[br]of this country.

0:05:18.535,0:05:20.831
That's the American Dream.

0:05:20.900,0:05:24.932
In Europe, there were many detractors[br]sneering at the idea

0:05:24.952,0:05:28.574
that common people could self-govern!

0:05:28.828,0:05:31.880
"No way, that's impossible," they said.

0:05:31.970,0:05:36.703
Why? The royalty for ages[br]had money and resources

0:05:36.723,0:05:42.123
to train and educate their children[br]to govern and rule over the common folk.

0:05:42.286,0:05:48.135
They couldn't imagine educating millions[br]to self-govern themselves. No way!

0:05:48.632,0:05:53.501
We all know what happened, [br]America succeeded in a big way,

0:05:53.541,0:05:57.300
all this based on the very idea[br]we can govern ourselves.

0:05:57.672,0:05:59.928
So, okay.

0:05:59.948,0:06:05.108
The fact we have zero deaf officials,[br]that's taxation without representation!

0:06:06.017,0:06:09.780
Pretty smart of us[br]to keep on paying taxes, eh?

0:06:09.800,0:06:13.033
Well, I do the same thing anyway!

0:06:14.113,0:06:18.333
So with all that in mind, wow!

0:06:18.402,0:06:21.132
Not to mention that the other key[br]to the American Dream

0:06:21.162,0:06:25.610
and how to make it work[br]requires having values

0:06:25.640,0:06:29.602
in free, appropriate[br]public education for all.

0:06:29.681,0:06:31.572
The reason why that is so important

0:06:31.592,0:06:34.535
is so all can learn[br]how to be a public servant.

0:06:34.953,0:06:37.253
The Founding Fathers felt[br]being a public servant

0:06:37.273,0:06:38.903
was the noblest thing to do.

0:06:38.933,0:06:42.496
The role of public servant[br]is so important.

0:06:42.966,0:06:47.340
And the deaf people get left behind.

0:06:48.000,0:06:51.777
Truly, our way of life is dying.

0:06:52.107,0:06:54.437
All over, deaf clubs[br]are weakening and closing.

0:06:54.457,0:06:57.307
Once proud, deaf[br]residential schools are closing

0:06:57.333,0:07:01.490
leaving us with probably[br]only five great deaf schools.

0:07:01.852,0:07:08.290
Even with that, there are still challenges[br]and worry with our schools today.

0:07:10.631,0:07:14.383
So, what do we do?

0:07:16.527,0:07:22.210
With these facts of decline[br]and despite advances in technology,

0:07:22.240,0:07:25.961
we are becoming more disconnected.

0:07:26.341,0:07:28.749
See, like this great, awesome[br]crowd of people here.

0:07:28.759,0:07:31.974
I wish I could see you,[br]bump into you all daily,

0:07:32.000,0:07:34.828
chat, laugh together and more.[br]I really wish for that.

0:07:34.838,0:07:36.562
But, t's not happening.

0:07:36.592,0:07:40.198
When we meet together like this,[br]we talk like mad and savor each moment.

0:07:40.219,0:07:43.262
That's such a huge boost.

0:07:44.002,0:07:50.791
Let me illustrate what a healthy community[br]and its social fabric would look like.

0:07:53.307,0:07:56.165
That's a healthy web.

0:07:56.195,0:08:00.264
That's what a strong,[br]healthy community looks like.

0:08:00.674,0:08:04.697
Every point and line that cross[br]each other, that's each one of you.

0:08:05.249,0:08:11.147
We are all connected, woven[br]into each other into one beautiful web.

0:08:11.759,0:08:17.315
Unfortunately in America, even[br]hearing people are also struggling.

0:08:17.872,0:08:20.317
Why? Suburban sprawl.

0:08:20.344,0:08:22.304
This country is designed[br]for automobiles.

0:08:22.324,0:08:24.534
As a result, people live further apart.

0:08:24.638,0:08:27.215
Many hearing Americans[br]are also struggling,

0:08:27.235,0:08:29.709
lonely in the suburbs, disconnected.

0:08:29.749,0:08:33.447
People in Europe have[br]a far better social fabric.

0:08:33.477,0:08:37.370
Their night life is incredibly rich with[br]all that eating and drinking together.

0:08:37.465,0:08:40.129
They can walk almost everywhere.

0:08:40.159,0:08:43.000
So their social fabric[br]is stronger than ours.

0:08:43.196,0:08:45.921
It's ironic that hearing people[br]are becoming more like us,

0:08:45.941,0:08:47.845
the deaf community, separate.

0:08:47.875,0:08:49.577
But we're more spread out!

0:08:49.597,0:08:52.419
Yes, the community[br]is strong in some areas.

0:08:52.439,0:08:55.501
We've a social network[br]all over the country.

0:08:55.531,0:08:57.215
We know many of our own people.

0:08:57.235,0:09:00.837
Now, let me illustrate how[br]our deaf community looks like here.

0:09:01.670,0:09:03.450
That's us.

0:09:06.116,0:09:09.740
That's us, incredibly[br]strong in some areas.

0:09:09.770,0:09:12.431
In the middle,

0:09:12.461,0:09:15.553
but so sparsely connected elsewhere.

0:09:15.583,0:09:19.633
Actually, that's a picture[br]of a spider on caffeine.

0:09:19.653,0:09:22.202
Is any of you drinking coffee?

0:09:22.216,0:09:24.896
You can see the effect[br]on the web itself.

0:09:25.440,0:09:28.398
So, now, look at that.

0:09:29.138,0:09:34.469
Imagine... Would that web[br]catch insects easily?

0:09:34.841,0:09:37.115
No, insects would often[br]just fly right through!

0:09:37.145,0:09:40.586
And if something big came,[br]these lines would just break!

0:09:40.711,0:09:42.110
Yet, that's us!

0:09:42.150,0:09:44.708
We're so dependent[br]on very few leaders and people,

0:09:44.718,0:09:47.472
all spread out, with no political voice.

0:09:47.832,0:09:51.172
We're barely holding together and worse,[br]we punish each other harshly.

0:09:51.187,0:09:54.144
yelling at each other for being apathetic,[br]saying things like,

0:09:54.164,0:09:56.396
"We just don't do enough! Come on!"

0:09:56.415,0:09:59.671
All that yelling at each other ... Huh!

0:09:59.960,0:10:03.156
We are just not physically[br]connected that way!

0:10:03.186,0:10:06.216
Sure, internet use is skyrocketing,[br]Facebook, Twitter.

0:10:06.256,0:10:09.933
These can never replace[br]our physical connection to each other!

0:10:09.953,0:10:11.124
Never!

0:10:11.124,0:10:15.360
They can enhance, add to our social[br]fabric, help strengthen it.

0:10:15.383,0:10:19.410
But these services can't exist without the[br]physical connection we've with each other.

0:10:19.430,0:10:23.318
I want to tell you a story about[br]my 11- year-old daughter, Stefania.

0:10:24.474,0:10:28.793
We moved to Indiana from South Dakota,[br]from a small town to a big city.

0:10:28.802,0:10:30.149
We lived in apartment.

0:10:30.169,0:10:34.182
One night, after being there[br]for a while, we sat down together.

0:10:34.202,0:10:36.581
She said, "Dad, when I grow up,

0:10:36.601,0:10:39.629
I want to move back[br]to Salem, South Dakota."

0:10:39.669,0:10:42.574
That was the small town we lived in.

0:10:42.714,0:10:44.221
I was like, "What? Why?

0:10:44.241,0:10:47.286
That town has only 1,300 people[br]and it's not quite beautiful" -

0:10:47.316,0:10:49.852
no offense to all people[br]and friends in Salem!

0:10:49.862,0:10:52.620
I love them, I really do![br]The town is just not picturesque.

0:10:52.629,0:10:55.708
So I asked her "Why?"

0:10:56.290,0:11:00.118
She simply said, "I was free there."

0:11:00.138,0:11:03.150
"I could ride my bike,[br]go to store, get bread and milk for you.

0:11:03.170,0:11:07.633
I could go to the town' swimming pool[br]and over to my friend's home myself.

0:11:07.647,0:11:11.356
Here, whenever I want to visit my friends,[br]I've to beg you to drive me there."

0:11:11.389,0:11:12.868
Wow.

0:11:15.704,0:11:18.970
She was talking about a town [br]I thought was not so special.

0:11:19.000,0:11:21.033
And she never forgot that.

0:11:21.103,0:11:23.927
So, when you all become older,[br]what are you going to do?

0:11:23.957,0:11:27.584
When you can no longer drive, what then?

0:11:28.130,0:11:30.512
Sure, there're two deaf [br]nursing homes in the U.S.,

0:11:30.512,0:11:34.126
retirement communities here and there.[br]I've seen most of them.

0:11:34.144,0:11:39.175
Almost all, if not all... Isolated,[br]disconnected from the cities.

0:11:39.195,0:11:42.109
You can't walk to these[br]places from anywhere.

0:11:42.129,0:11:45.689
These centers are separate, like islands.

0:11:45.719,0:11:51.730
So, life quickly passes them by,[br]and they are there, marking time.

0:11:52.534,0:11:55.218
Residents often have to beg for visits.

0:11:55.252,0:11:58.632
"Please, I'm lonely.[br]Can you visit me more?"

0:11:59.236,0:12:02.000
We all become[br]so busy with life, we forget.

0:12:03.980,0:12:06.109
That realization had[br]a profound impact on me.

0:12:06.129,0:12:08.786
No way. That can't happen to me.

0:12:08.806,0:12:13.472
But, we have to ask ourselves,[br]"Are we worth it?"

0:12:14.744,0:12:18.704
Really, are we? Are we worth saving?

0:12:19.624,0:12:23.723
There's a long list of problems[br]in our Deaf community.

0:12:24.068,0:12:27.801
So, why don't we just give up?[br]Just exit the world stage?

0:12:30.190,0:12:32.724
No. We are worth it!

0:12:32.746,0:12:35.288
Why? We have a lot[br]to offer to the world.

0:12:35.308,0:12:37.428
And we all know it!

0:12:37.448,0:12:39.210
We know it!

0:12:41.428,0:12:46.640
If we are truly worth it, then,[br]we just have to do something.

0:12:48.357,0:12:50.499
Malcolm X once said,

0:12:50.519,0:12:55.871
"To achieve social equality, we must[br]achieve economic empowerment first."

0:12:56.545,0:13:01.203
First, invest, create wealth,[br]support each other, build on each other,

0:13:01.227,0:13:03.100
and grow from there.

0:13:03.127,0:13:05.235
Let me illustrate this[br]with a story, a pond.

0:13:05.275,0:13:08.639
Now, you have this home[br]on lake front, a huge lake.

0:13:08.639,0:13:12.748
You have it near wherever[br]you live. A really big lake!

0:13:13.163,0:13:17.264
You extend a garden hose[br]from the house into the lake.

0:13:17.294,0:13:21.873
You extent the hose to the big lake[br]and turn on the water.

0:13:21.906,0:13:23.803
The flow starts.

0:13:27.343,0:13:31.363
How long will take for the water[br]level in the lake to rise noticeably?

0:13:32.543,0:13:34.233
I'm telling you. Never!

0:13:34.273,0:13:37.234
So, take the flowing hose.

0:13:38.083,0:13:41.692
Well, dig a hole and put the hose there.

0:13:41.722,0:13:43.305
Bam! You see the water rise.

0:13:43.325,0:13:46.701
Wow! Let's bring in a backhoe[br]and expand our pond.

0:13:46.721,0:13:49.841
Now, that one hose represents one of you.

0:13:49.848,0:13:52.319
The money you spend every single day

0:13:52.339,0:13:55.803
flow into the world[br]that doesn't even notice you.

0:13:56.673,0:13:58.318
Enough! Take that hose,

0:13:58.338,0:14:02.905
and bring each one of us together,[br]water flowing into the newly formed pond.

0:14:02.925,0:14:07.569
Whoa, now we can add a diving board here,[br]and even add sandy beach and trees!

0:14:07.587,0:14:10.372
We can make this pond[br]into whatever we want,

0:14:10.392,0:14:13.203
according to our vision and dreams.

0:14:14.271,0:14:17.685
We must start here with a small pond.

0:14:17.697,0:14:21.000
Some of you may cringe and say,[br]"This pond is too small and muddy.

0:14:21.020,0:14:24.862
Ugh, I'd rather be at the huge beautiful[br]lake over there that has everything

0:14:24.867,0:14:26.549
just like a big city."

0:14:26.649,0:14:30.146
That's fine. I can understand that.[br]But we have to start somewhere!

0:14:31.226,0:14:33.731
So you want all that[br]nice living in a big city?

0:14:33.771,0:14:35.080
You know what?

0:14:35.100,0:14:38.464
New York City started[br]as this cute, tiny port town!

0:14:38.614,0:14:41.495
Today, it's home to millions[br]and huge glittering skyscrapers,

0:14:41.515,0:14:42.875
center of everything.

0:14:42.895,0:14:49.373
We just have to start somewhere[br]and build this bilingual signing town.

0:14:49.755,0:14:51.900
That's how we will see ourselves

0:14:51.930,0:14:57.100
change from a weak broken web[br]to a strong beautiful web.

0:15:00.040,0:15:04.234
You see that? By being[br]physically together in a small town.

0:15:04.255,0:15:08.303
Not just for Deaf people! No.[br]Hearing people, interpreters, and more!

0:15:08.330,0:15:12.103
We would gain incentives to connect!

0:15:12.256,0:15:14.600
Let me give you an example,[br]someone learning ASL.

0:15:14.620,0:15:16.912
(Awkwardly) "Hi. My. Name. Is..."

0:15:18.192,0:15:21.599
Oh, many of us just don't have[br]the patience for that.

0:15:21.689,0:15:24.289
When we see one of those,[br]most just run away.

0:15:24.339,0:15:28.129
It's true - just admit that -[br]and it's perfectly understandable.

0:15:28.285,0:15:31.980
Now, in this town, you own a business,[br]let's say a hairstylist salon.

0:15:32.000,0:15:34.777
You're motivated to see[br]your business grow, right?

0:15:34.805,0:15:36.748
When that person learning ASL comes in.

0:15:36.811,0:15:40.181
(Awkwardly) "Hi! I. Need. Haircut."

0:15:40.574,0:15:42.654
What are you going to do?[br]Send them away?

0:15:42.669,0:15:45.765
Or are you going to welcome them[br]with open arms into your store?

0:15:45.775,0:15:49.966
Why? Their money is[br]as green as the rest of them.

0:15:50.071,0:15:53.722
That's an incentive![br]Just one small example of incentive.

0:15:54.898,0:15:57.700
For instance, if someone starts[br]a franchise like McDonald's

0:15:57.730,0:16:01.560
in this ASL town where we do not drown[br]in a sea of spoken English, and feel safe,

0:16:01.580,0:16:04.726
he will create new opportunities.

0:16:04.746,0:16:07.160
This would have a huge[br]impact on McDonald's system.

0:16:07.190,0:16:11.274
Why? The franchisee would have to work[br]with McDonald's and go through training.

0:16:11.294,0:16:14.939
They will learn all about interpreters,[br]providing access and working with us.

0:16:14.949,0:16:17.288
They'd be learning[br]something valuable from us.

0:16:17.318,0:16:20.906
This would promote greater interaction[br]between us and the rest of the world.

0:16:20.906,0:16:23.273
"Oh, Deaf people can do this!"

0:16:23.303,0:16:25.393
And you know what?

0:16:25.413,0:16:28.798
They'd ask the franchisee if they could[br]recommend more deaf and signers.

0:16:28.838,0:16:31.970
Oh, yes, they will.[br]That's just one example.

0:16:33.761,0:16:36.351
Seriously, just imagine[br]yourself living in that town

0:16:36.371,0:16:39.760
where you won't be pigeonholed[br]into limited roles we have today

0:16:39.790,0:16:44.529
such as teachers, counselors, etc. No!

0:16:44.549,0:16:46.480
You can be and do anything you want.

0:16:46.500,0:16:48.940
A deaf person came[br]to our ASL town booth one day.

0:16:48.960,0:16:54.351
A survey asked people what they wanted[br]to do if they lived in this town.

0:16:54.420,0:16:57.100
They were like, "Um ... Of course,[br]I'm a school teacher"

0:16:57.120,0:16:58.720
as if this was a dumb question.

0:16:58.740,0:17:00.800
I asked if teaching was[br]their real passion.

0:17:00.820,0:17:06.130
"What do you mean? Uh..."[br]A light bulb went on.

0:17:06.148,0:17:09.069
"Can I start a kennel?"

0:17:09.140,0:17:11.080
"Sure! Why not?

0:17:11.120,0:17:13.080
"Oh, wow."

0:17:14.550,0:17:16.589
That was an important eureka moment.

0:17:16.619,0:17:21.680
You can pursue your passion,[br]without having to settle.

0:17:21.880,0:17:25.430
All these new businesses create new[br]connections forging a stronger bond.

0:17:25.450,0:17:30.510
Imagine our own local school[br]run by our own people.

0:17:30.520,0:17:32.880
Would that school be[br]just for deaf people? No!

0:17:32.900,0:17:36.310
It'd be a bilingual immersion program[br]in American Sign Language for all!

0:17:36.330,0:17:39.504
Hearing and deaf kids all together!

0:17:39.507,0:17:43.945
Kids would be expressing themselves[br]with ASL and English so fluently!

0:17:44.440,0:17:48.150
Our kids and grand kids will grow up[br]in a different world, a much better one.

0:17:48.170,0:17:51.640
Our posterity will build something[br]even bigger and more incredible,

0:17:51.650,0:17:53.619
something we can't even imagine.

0:17:53.639,0:17:56.180
I promise you that.

0:17:56.220,0:17:59.250
So, will you join me?

0:17:59.720,0:18:03.705
Will you help me build that town[br]and grow it into something amazing?

0:18:03.779,0:18:07.520
With that success, we'll see new projects[br]like this spring up across the world!

0:18:07.540,0:18:09.672
Thank you.